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Voges to captain PM's XI against Sri Lanka

The 37-year-old to lead side in T20 fixture ahead of Sri Lanka's three-match series against Australia

Dumped Test batsman Adam Voges has been granted a prestigious honour by being named captain of the Prime Minister’s XI side to face Sri Lanka next month.

Voges will lead the side in the T20 fixture, to be live streamed exclusively on cricket.com.au, at Canberra’s Manuka Oval on February 15 ahead of the Australia-Sri Lanka T20 International series against Australia.

“It’s a tremendous honour to be selected to captain the Prime Minister’s XI and captain alongside the likes of past greats including Brett Lee, Mike Hussey, Ricky Ponting and Chris Rogers,” Voges said.

“Having played last year, I know how important this fixture is on the Australian cricketing calendar, and it is a great tradition.”

After failing to pass 50 in 11 consecutive innings, the 37-year-old lost his spot in the Test side in the wake of South Africa’s series-clinching innings victory over Australia in Hobart in November.

Voges nonetheless still holds a Test average in excess of 60, earning him selection in the International Cricket Council’s team of the year in 2016.

The PM’s XI match will be the second match in a double-header, with Papua New Guinea set to take on an ACT XI in a curtain-raiser.

“I’m delighted that Adam Voges will be available to Captain the PM’s XI,” said the Prime Minister, The Hon. Malcolm Turnbull MP.

“This is my second PM’s XI and I’m looking forward to a fierce contest against Sri Lanka.”

The Prime Minister also announced that the Alannah & Madeline Foundation and Lord’s Taverners ACT would become the official charity partners of this summer’s match.

Sri Lanka’s three-match T20I series begins on February 17 at the MCG before games in Geelong on February 19 and then Adelaide on February 22.

The rest of the PM’s XI squad is expected to be named early next month.